How are trust deeds or mortgage liens treated in Washington?

Washington primarily operates as atitle theory state where the property title remains
in trust until payment in full occurs for the underlying loan. Foreclosure is anon-judicial remedy under this
theory. The document that secures the title is usually called adeed of trust. Washington law also permitsmortgages to serve as liens upon real property and forjudicial foreclosures to occur through the courts.
Because thepower of sale provisions indeeds of trust is a faster mechanism to effectuate foreclosure,
this is the primary vehicle to foreclose.

You're only seconds away from searching foreclosures FREE for 7 days with America's largest and most trusted database.

It's fast and easy!

How are Washington mortgages/trust deeds foreclosed?

The primary method of foreclosure in Washington involves what is known asnon-judicial foreclosure. This type of foreclosure does not involve court action but requires notice commonly callednotice of sale. When thedeed of trust is initially signed it will usually contain a provision
called apower of sale clause, which upon default allows atrustee to sell the property in order to
satisfy the underlying defaulted loan. Thetrustee acts as a representative of the lender to effectuate the
sale which typically occurs in the form of an auction. Because this is a non-judicial remedy, there are very stringent
notice requirements and the legal documents are required to contain thepower of sale language in order to use
this type of foreclosure method.

Power of Sale Notice Requirements:

Prior to initiating a foreclosure sale the lender must serve anotice of default to the borrower at least 30 days
before the proposed sale moves forward. This must be sent by certified or registered mail, and be sent to theattorney for the borrower, if any, and either posted on the subject property or personally served on borrower.

Notice of default as described above must contain certain information, including a description of the default,
thelenders identification of the deed of trust and a breakdown of foreclosure costs and fees. At any time up
until 11 days before the trustee's sale the loan may be reinstated. The loan may be fully paid off at any
time prior to the sale. The lender has discretion to reinstate any loan later than 11 days before any sale.

In the event the loan default is not cured during the initial 30-day period referenced in the notice of default,
at least 90 days prior to the trustee's sale, thetrustee must mail anotice of trustee's sale to the borrower,
and all lien holders and any other parties of interest. This notice must also be recorded with theauditor of the county in which the property is located and otherwise be posted and served in the same manner as the notice
of default. The notice must also be published in an approved newspaper for legal notices at two specified time
periods for the preceding month before the sale.

Foreclosure sales must take place between 9AM and 4PM on a Friday, unless the Friday is a legal holiday, then the
sale will occur the following Monday. Sales must occur within 190 days after the date of first default but may be
extended up to 120 days at the trustee's discretion. In the event of a bankruptcy, a sale may be reinstated no
more than 45 days from the dismissal of the bankruptcy or lifting of theautomatic stay.

In Washington, thelenders can also go to court in what is known as ajudicial foreclosure proceeding where
the court must issue a final judgment of foreclosure. If thedeed of trust does not contain thepower of sale language, the lender must seekjudicial foreclosure. The property is then sold as part of a publicly
noticed sale. A complaint is filed in court along with what is known alis pendens. Alis pendens is
a recorded document that provides public notice that the property is being foreclosed upon.

How long does it take to foreclose a property in Washington?

Depending on the timing of the various required notices, it usually takes approximately 120 days to effectuate an uncontestednon-judicial foreclosure. This process may be delayed if the borrower contests the action in court, seeks delays and
postponements of sales, or files forbankruptcy. Much of the ongoing delays in a foreclosure sales relate to the
proper service of parties in interest, governmental agencies and junior lienholders. Difficulty is finding or serving these
parties delays the process.

Are deficiency judgments permitted in Washington?

Generally, adeficiency judgment may be not obtained using thenon-judicial foreclosure process when a property in foreclosure is sold at a public sale for less than the loan amount that the
underlying mortgage or deed of trust secures. A deficiency judgment can be obtained injudicial foreclosure sale,
unless the property had been abandoned for the preceding six (6) months prior to the foreclosure judgment or decree that
would preclude any deficiency.